COCAINE with a street value “in the region of £1,500” was found in the possession of a Southport man suspected of drug dealing, a court heard on Monday .

Seventeen bags of the class A drug, plus a smaller amount of cannabis, weighing scales, two mobile phones and “a large quantity of cash” were recovered from Matthew John Bell’s Peugeot car after his arrest on suspicion of selling drugs, said the prosecution.

Bell, 28, of Norwood Crescent, pleaded guilty at North Sefton Magistrates’ Court to possessing 25.4 grammes of cocaine and 2.9 grammes of cannabis, with intent to supply both substances.

Ann Bishop, prosecuting, said plain clothes officers were in an unmarked police car at 7.45pm on January 3, when they saw a male leave a property on Jane’s Brook Road and approach a Peugeot car parked nearby, which Bell was driving.

She continued: “The man leant on the car door and went inside. The officers were suspicious a drug deal was taking place.

“The officers approached the driver of the vehicle. When they spoke to him he was agitated and nervous.

“They could clearly see a white bag on the driver’s side” – and Mrs Bishop added Bell later admitted this was cannabis.

Mrs Bishop continued: “Both Bell and the car were checked and five clear bags containing white powder were found. Under caution the defendant admitted this was cocaine.

“A large quantity of cash was also recovered, although they could not confirm how much was there.”

Bell was arrested on suspicion of intent to supply and two mobile phones and a set of scales were also found in his car, said Mrs Bishop.

She said: “His home address was searched and a large quantity of cocaine was found.

“The defendant clearly had been dealing in class A drugs.”

Bell’s solicitor, Rory McCormack, said there were a number of mitigating factors, particularly his client’s “full and frank admission”, full co-operation with police and early guilty plea.

Mr McCormack added: “The street value of the cocaine is somewhere in the region of £1,500 and the cannabis somewhere in the region of £20. This is not a miniscule amount but it is not a lot in relation to a some matters committed to crown court.

“You must be mindful you are dealing with a man of previous good character with no previous convictions or cautions.”

Magistrates at North Sefton Magistrates’ Court declined to accept jurisdiction and remanded Bell on unconditional bail to appear for sentencing at crown court next month.